Finally, a Cure for Tinnitus...Or is It?

http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/05/24/finally-a-treatment-for-that-buzzing-in-your-ears/?iref=allsearch

Imagine a continuous, unrelenting ringing or whistling in your ears that no matter the attempts at a solution, refuses to subside. Now imagine that when you finally have had enough, and attempt to drown these sounds out, the only answer you receive is a backfire.  Contrary to your infallible physician's expectations, utilizing music, t.v., or even a specialized hearing aid designed to mask these phantom sounds only worsens the condition.  Now, you are welcomed to the illusion of two flight-ready F-16's sitting on either side of your position.

 According to this article, a study examined a new approach at solving the medical mystery of tinnitus. 
Instead of working to drown out the noise, researchers suggest focusing on it.  By way of a facet of exposure therapy, it is theorized that one may habituate to the noise so that it may be more manageable to deal with.  (However, in a modest aside, it seems as though if the affected individuals were forced to focus on these sounds initially, and this hypothesis had worked, they would have no need for any further therapy.)  But either way, this study based it's foundation upon cognitive behavioral therapy, and the influence of fear responses to some stimulus (in this case, tinnitus).  In the end, it succeeded in producing a therapeutic option for patients to seek so that they might restructure their reactions to tinnitus, but did not offer what tinnitus-sufferers are ultimately seeking - a cure. 

 A quote from Ginny Morrell sets the stage for this discussion.  "It's not going to kill me, it's not cancer.  But it might drive me crazy."  It is evident that there are not life-threatening implications of this condition, at least physiologically.  However, the psychological ramifications of it may prove to be detrimental in some individuals.  As the article states, "it is virtually impossible to pinpoint the origin of the sound, [because] there is no established neural origin for the condition".  Therefore, each case of tinnitus is unique.

Despite any hopes of an effective treatment in the near future, little is being done to understand this elusive condition.  As illustrated by Morrell's statements in the article, most physicians, (especially those in smaller towns) have no idea where to even start, much less know how to treat the condition, and often send their patients to someone else who does not know an adequate treatment.  Ultimately, it is imperative that more research be done on this condition, not only to treat those already affected, but also for many future cases that are sure to arise.